Tues.
Review of Chap. 20-25. Classroom discussion Things Fall Apart, Review Chap. 20-25 How does Oknokwo feel about his social position? 172-173 Describe Okonkwo's plans to rebuild his prestige when he returns to Umuofia. 172 What changes does Okonkow find Umuofia? 174 How does Okonkwo resopnd to the changes in his fatherland? 175 Chap. 21 What are some of the positive effects of the new government? 178 Compare Okonkwo's actual return with the homecoming he planned. 183 Chap. 22 Contrast Mr. Smith and Mr. Brown 184-85 What motivates Enoch to commit an offense against Ibo religious customs? 186 How do the egwugwu respond to the crime? 191 Chap. 23 Account for Okonkwo's high spirits at the beginning of the chapter.192 How does the District Commissioner trick the leaders of Umuofia? 194 Summarize the District Commissioner's decision. 194, 197 Chap. 24 Why does no one in the village welcome the leaders when they return? 198 How is Okonkwo's mood different from the others? 199-200 What does Okonkwo see as the greatest threat to Umuofia?200How does he plan to repsond to that threat? 200 What unprecedented action does Okika propose? 203-204 What happens when the court messengers arrive? 204 Chap. 25 Why do you think Okonkwo kills himself? Explain Obierika's request to the District Commissioner. 207 Contrast the way Obierika and the District Commissioner react to Okonkwo's death.208 Why do you think the novel ends the the District Commissioners thoughts about his book? 209 General Discussion What kind of person is Okonkwo?Describe his physical characteristics, his personality, and the opinion others have of him. The District Commissioner describes Okonkwo's people as "primitive."How could you characterize the Ibo culture? How does Achebe give his reader a sense of what Okonkwo's culture was like before it "fell apart." Achebe was an Ibo who was raised in a Chrisitan family.Does this information about Achebe's background influence your opinion of the novel? Is this novel a tragedy? Tragedy An individual struggles against fate and fails.The hero's downfall is often caused by a tragic flaw, such as jealousy or excessive ambition.Though defeated, the hero is a strong person who has dared to aspire to greatness. One important theme of the novel can be found in the book's title.Trace the progressive "falling apart" of Okonkwo's culture.
Wed./Thurs.
The next unit (Unit 5) is about justice and injustice. We will be reading Oedipus the King by Sophocles, along with several other readings that deal with the theme of justice. Our focus will be on public speaking and debate in this unit.
Quickwrite: What is justice to you? Chart on page 267in Springboard Discussion in large groups about a time when justice was served/not served. Film clip: The Justice League
Who is good? bad? How do you know? How is justice served? Readings about situations of injustice. Think, pair, share
1. What was the main issue in the article?
2. How was this issue resolved?
3. Was justice served in the article?
4. If so, who and if not, how could it have been served?
Read in small groups and present to class. Review card game for Things Fall Apart
Mon.
Teacher Workday. Enjoy your day off!
Tues.
Review of Chap. 20-25. Classroom discussion
Things Fall Apart, Review Chap. 20-25
How does Oknokwo feel about his social position? 172-173
Describe Okonkwo's plans to rebuild his prestige when he returns to Umuofia. 172
What changes does Okonkow find Umuofia? 174
How does Okonkwo resopnd to the changes in his fatherland? 175
Chap. 21
What are some of the positive effects of the new government? 178
Compare Okonkwo's actual return with the homecoming he planned. 183
Chap. 22
Contrast Mr. Smith and Mr. Brown 184-85
What motivates Enoch to commit an offense against Ibo religious customs? 186
How do the egwugwu respond to the crime? 191
Chap. 23
Account for Okonkwo's high spirits at the beginning of the chapter.192
How does the District Commissioner trick the leaders of Umuofia? 194
Summarize the District Commissioner's decision. 194, 197
Chap. 24
Why does no one in the village welcome the leaders when they return? 198
How is Okonkwo's mood different from the others? 199-200
What does Okonkwo see as the greatest threat to Umuofia? 200 How does he plan to repsond to that threat? 200
What unprecedented action does Okika propose? 203-204
What happens when the court messengers arrive? 204
Chap. 25
Why do you think Okonkwo kills himself?
Explain Obierika's request to the District Commissioner. 207
Contrast the way Obierika and the District Commissioner react to Okonkwo's death.208
Why do you think the novel ends the the District Commissioners thoughts about his book? 209
General Discussion
What kind of person is Okonkwo? Describe his physical characteristics, his personality, and the opinion others have of him.
The District Commissioner describes Okonkwo's people as "primitive." How could you characterize the Ibo culture?
How does Achebe give his reader a sense of what Okonkwo's culture was like before it "fell apart."
Achebe was an Ibo who was raised in a Chrisitan family. Does this information about Achebe's background influence your opinion of the novel?
Is this novel a tragedy?
Tragedy
An individual struggles against fate and fails. The hero's downfall is often caused by a tragic flaw, such as jealousy or excessive ambition. Though defeated, the hero is a strong person who has dared to aspire to greatness.
One important theme of the novel can be found in the book's title. Trace the progressive "falling apart" of Okonkwo's culture.
Wed./Thurs.
The next unit (Unit 5) is about justice and injustice. We will be reading Oedipus the King by Sophocles, along with several other readings that deal with the theme of justice. Our focus will be on public speaking and debate in this unit.
Quickwrite: What is justice to you? Chart on page 267in Springboard
Discussion in large groups about a time when justice was served/not served.
Film clip: The Justice League
Who is good? bad? How do you know? How is justice served?
Readings about situations of injustice. Think, pair, share
1. What was the main issue in the article?
2. How was this issue resolved?
3. Was justice served in the article?
4. If so, who and if not, how could it have been served?
Read in small groups and present to class.
Review card game for Things Fall Apart
Fri.
Test on Things Fall Apart
Vocabulary